News from Panama

The following post comes from very dear friends in Panama, who are working with Chinese in that area.

CHERYL'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

• I'm still processing all of the sights, sounds & impressions of a very unusual week. Let me share just a few.



• I was humbled at the personal sacrifice of money, time away from family, and the hardships of traveling the back roads/paths of the Guaymi reserve that our Guaymi coworkers make in order to minister to the people in those remote areas. God is honoring those sacrifices & people are responding to the gospel. About fifty people responded to the gospel this week, alone, after three nights of movies: La Esperanza, the Jesus film, and the Jesus film for children. Pray for these new believers as the Guaymi coworkers continue to follow up & organize Bible studies with these new believers.



• I felt overwhelmed with the physical needs of the people. Its hard to express the humbleness of their homes, the wornness of their clothing, the premature aging & multitude of health issues caused by a lifetime of hard physical labor under the sun and to me, the fruitlessness of trying to eek out a living in their situation.



• I couldn't help but smile at the children enjoying the same kinds of simple pleasures that all children enjoy, like climbing trees, playing in the local stream, playing baseball with a rock & stick, bouncing up & down on a fallen log and expressing delight over an empty cardboard box to play with.



• I felt the satisfaction of having helped a child with a broken arm get to a hospital hours away, or of the groups' helping a very sick newborn get to a hospital and be diagnosed with a serious heart condition or having helped alleviate intestinal parasites, infections, and many types of aches & pains, even if only temporarily.



• My own inadequacies in Spanish were painfully obvious at times but God was very gracious & surrounded me with patient, helpful coworkers who were happy to help me learn what I needed to know!



• In Panama, there is no place too remote to find Chinese. In the nearest town to our medical clinic, I shared Chinese/Spanish evangelistic tracts with the owners of the local grocery, who are Chinese.



• Never having been a big camping enthusiast, I did learn that using an outdoor "squatty potty", bathing in the stream and sleeping in tents can be fun, or at least funny, part of the time.



• The local Guaymi ladies can make some awesome food in their very humble kitchens over an open fire.



• Benedryl does not effectively silence noisy roosters.
  
  Thanks for praying me through this week. I had no problems with sickness, our vehicles & traveling details worked well, our medical team was able to treat around 400-500 people and there was great attendance & response to the movies at night. God is at work & you have been part of it!

John Mark and Cheryl

Joyful news from Ecuador

House church double wedding

Saturday night I married two couples from one of the newly planted house churches. Both have only recently come to know the Lord through the ministry of one of our national team members, Marlene Lorenti.


Pedro and Patricia (not their real names) have lived together for over 20 years without ever marrying. Their daughter, "Maria," has been living with her boyfriend, "Mario," for three years now following in the steps of her mother. Mario and Maria have their own daughter who is two-years old.

When all four came to know the Lord a few months ago, they themselves said "we need to make things right with God, and with each other." So mother and daughter, along with the guys set up an appointment with me through Marlene, the church planter who had led them to Christ. I listened to their testimonies and heard first hand how Christ has totally transformed their lives. They were concerned about having a good testimony in their community and asked if I would marry them. Both couples want to serve the Lord, and since the church meets in their home, they figured it was time to make things "right."

Saturday night around forty invited guests met on the terrace of one of the homes. Marlene and others had decorated and set up tables and chairs for everyone. All the way through the ceremony, the two-year old daughter threw a tantrum (see above photo) trying to get her mother to hold her. Finally, someone came and took the little girl outside, but that was even worse as she began screaming and crying all the louder!

We eventually managed to get through the ceremony-- even though neither couple was able to get their rings on due to having bought sizes too small. After the bridal kiss, we all sat down together for the wedding banquet which had been prepared by Marlene and members from her house church. Of course, before we were able to eat, I was requested to accompany them in our car to go get the food which was being kept warm at Marlene's house. We had the standard chicken and rice, along with potato salad (here pineapple, peas, carrots, onion, and corn are standard ingredients for potato salad--quite tasty!)


After eating, Pedro comes up to me and asks if I would sing #68 on page 44 (out of our green song books we use.) I told him I would be glad to, but what was the song? He said he couldn't remember, but surely I must know--missionaries know everything! :) I told him I didn't have any idea what #68 was! He told me it was his favorite and to sing it anyway. Just as I was about to get up and sing "something", it was picture taking time and he was rushed off by his new bride, WHEW!


Both Pedro and his new wife Patricia are currently in our Wednesday night COSECHA church planting training course. They are thrilled to be working together now as a team in their section of the city as house church planters/leaders. Marlene will most likely turn the work over to them now, so that she can go plant a new church elsewhere.


Would you just pause a few seconds and whisper a prayer for Pedro, Patricia, Mario, and Maria that the Lord would use them greatly in reaching the thousands of people within a stone's throw of their house church? Thanks!














(Top photo is shot from their balcony, bottom photo
is part of the church that meets in their house.)
















P.S. For the few readers familiar with our green "cancionero" #68 on page 44 is "Sin yo quererte, tu me quisiste". It was the first thing I looked up once home. Great song!

(This information received from guymuse.blogspot.com/ and copied with permission)

East Asia Update

Stories From China Workers

Making an Impression
"Recently a young lady who began teaching this last term listened to one of our key Chinese workers sharing about Christ. The teacher, Cher, said she wanted to receive Him, and our friend told her she could pray the prayer of acceptance. Cher was very nervous about praying, saying, "It’s very important to make a good impression when you meet someone for the first time." I love this simple story of a new and vibrant faith. Our friend says Cher prayed her own prayer without prompting, and it was one of the most sincere and deep prayers she has ever heard."


An Extra Serving
"Last Sunday I attended a house church and participated in communion service. An old believer aged about 70 sat next to me. When the bread was passed, he took an extra piece and carefully wrapped it in clean paper. When the juice was passed, he took an extra cup and poured the juice into a small bottle that he had brought. After placing the extra servings into his pocket, he participated in the communion service. I was so curious to know who would receive the extra serving. He probably wanted to give them to his sick wife or a handicapped person in his home. His loving action touched my heart."


Quotes from the Front Lines


Easter Reports of Praise
"This Easter morning, I had a chance to preach a 'Resurrection' message to more than 80 people, 20 of whom were non-believers. At the end, an invitation was given and 17 people received Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord!"Our teammates hosted an outreach on Easter Sunday at a hotel. Around 150 people heard praise music, testimonies, and a gospel message. Sixty eight people indicated a decision to trust the Lord!" "On Easter we had over 30 folks, mostly doctors, in our Bible Study group. After showing a musical DVD Passion Play from a U.S. church, we had three make a decision for Jesus. How great to see the Lord work!" "Easter Sunday was the first time some of the believers had met each other, and (one) woman was surprised at who she saw. Introducing herself to a man seated just inside the doorway, she asked, 'Do you remember me? When I was little, my parents often took me to your home to see your father, their favorite fortune-teller. Now YOU believe Jesus?! So amazing!'" "During the special Easter outing (one house church) had last Sunday, they baptized more than 10 new believers in a lake. My family was invited to join them, but we could not attend as we needed to visit a new church we helped start. During the journey, we shared the Creation to Christ story and three new believers joined the Family!"


Praying for God's Workers
"I'm not particularly good at what I do. I don't have any great skills or abilities that make me an effective missionary. But at night I hear God's heartbeat for children that He longs to embrace. At sunrise, I pray for hurting, hopeless crowds of people who are trapped by fear. At daylight, I'm compelled by His Spirit to be a living message of the mercy and freedom He is offering. Please pray for missionaries. We are not heroes. We are weak people, speaking and sharing from the simple conviction that God is faithfully drawing nations to Himself. Powerfully. Beautifully. Today."



Eye On China

Extremes
China's population, still the largest in the world, grew by almost 7 million people last year. One out of every five people in the world live in China.The world's tallest man, 7'9" Bao Xishun from China, just got married to 5'6" Xia Shujian after advertising worldwide for a suitable bride.Hong Kong now has the highest life expectancy in the world for both men and women! Men are expected to reach age 79.5 years of age and women to live to 85.6 years of age!






Special Upcoming Opportunities



Engaging China will connect American teachers with Chinese students and teachers in life-changing summer opportunities.
Contact https://my.newsletter4fun.com/index.cfm/fa/ct.go/LID/15742/m/2931/sID/6802JA445A4E6450A0A060441.cfm for details.

A China Vision Trip for pastors and key church leaders will be held in late fall. Contact https://my.newsletter4fun.com/index.cfm/fa/ct.go/LID/15743/m/2931/sID/6802JA445A4E6450A0A060441.cfm for details.

A Church as China Partner Workshop designed to equip American churches to reach China for Christ will be held in mid-November at Harp's Crossing Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Georgia. For more information, write to: https://my.newsletter4fun.com/index.cfm/fa/ct.go/LID/15744/m/2931/sID/6802JA445A4E6450A0A060441.cfm

Teams of university students will serve in locations all throughout China this Christmas in China. For more information, write to: https://my.newsletter4fun.com/index.cfm/fa/ct.go/LID/15745/m/2931/sID/6802JA445A4E6450A0A060441.cfm

Volunteers are needed year-round for literature distribution, backpacking, ESL teaching, Olympic opportunities, training, childcare, and other vital ministries. Contact https://my.newsletter4fun.com/index.cfm/fa/ct.go/LID/15746/m/2931/sID/6802JA445A4E6450A0A060441.cfm for more opportunities.

(This information received from Heart for China, website and email addresses given upon request.)

Preachables

CHINA. A believer who is a member of an ethnic minority group traveled far late last year to find someone to tell him how to share the gospel. He found someone more than willing, not only to tell him, but to show him by doing. Since then, the newly discipled believer has been instrumental in leading more than 40 members of his minority group to Christ and has started several Bible study groups. Recently he also received official permission to travel into some normally restricted areas where his minority people live. He fully intends to take the Good News with him and share it in with people who have never heard.

CHINA. She was only ten-years old when she was kidnapped from her Lisu minority village 70 years ago and taken to another minority community. There she grew up and eventually married. She learned to speak the dialect of the local people, adopted their culture, and even grew to accept their religious traditions. Early this year, a group of Lisu believers visited the village where the aging woman lives. When she heard the Lisu dialect, she recognized it immediately as her mother tongue. Memories flooded her heart and mind as she told them her amazing story of exile. In return, they told her a story that was even more amazing, the story of God's love manifested through Christ. As she knelt in prayer to accept Jesus into her heart, she knew that she had truly been found.

CHINA. A group of six Christians who were facilitating an English camp at a local school were called to the principal's office. There they were joined by six nonbelievers who were also helping with the camp and had also been summoned. The Christians knew that the principal was a believer, but felt a bit awkward when he asked them to sing some songs together. They did so anyway, even as they wondered what was going on. Then all of the sudden, he blurted out to the Christians, "Tell them." No longer puzzled about his intent, the believers began to share their testimonies and respond to the probing earnest questions of the nonbelievers. The sharing lasted for hours, and even though there were no salvation decisions right then, doors had been opened wide through the determination of that one principal.
(Courtesy of IMB heart4china)

Church Planting in Ecuador

The following is an excerpt from Guy Muse's website. More information on the work in Ecuador can be found at http://guymuse.blogspot.com/

Starting House Churches in G..., Ecuador
(July 2000-January 2006) following Luke 10:1-9 patternWe call our church planting, "La Iglesia en Tu Casa" (The Church in Your House). LIETC began in July 2000. Our team at that time was composed of seven Southern Baptist missionaries (IMB-SBC) - all assigned to church planting. The team now consists of two IMB units, one SIM couple from New Zealand, and two national brothers who fully participate in all plans, teaching, decision making, etc. Our team is led by one of the national brothers.None of the missionaries actually plant churches; rather, we are catalysts for church planting. The reason for this is that, if we set out to plant a church, we individually might plant 1 - 2 new churches a year. But as church planting catalysts, the only limitation of church starts is the number of people who respond to the Lord's call to go out and plant New Testament churches.

Lay leaders, whom we call "servant-leaders," lead all the house churches. At nearly any given moment, we are training between 20 to 30 men and women who are likewise in various stages of training and starting new house churches. Most of them tend to come out of established traditional evangelical churches and thus carry a lot of baggage with them in their seeking to begin new works...We feel there are four requirements for anyone who wants to start a house church:

1) Willingness to win-disciple-train at least eight others each year.
2) Willingness to be trained in the basics of evangelism, discipleship,
teaching, etc.
3) Willingness and commitment to visit, evangelize, and minister to the
local community where the church is being planted.
4) Willingness to lead in the house church meetings (especially in the
beginning as they are being started with non-believers.)

While there have been well above 250 new churches started since July 2000 , less than half are currently meeting and functioning as churches...While this "short shelf-life" of more than half the churches started is a source of great concern, we are nevertheless encouraged in that those won through the ministry of the new house churches tend to have had genuine salvation experiences...

GOD WORKING IN EAST ASIA

The Time is Now
The Chinese man had just heard a clear presentation of the gospel and it was obvious that he was under conviction. Not ready to yield to Holy Spirit, he said, "I need more time to study." The believer who was sharing with him replied, "No, you don't need more time. You have heard the entire gospel. You need to decide whether to follow Him." The Chinese man replied, "Yes, I need to do this now." He bowed his head and accepted Christ.

Something She Loves More
Possessing the energy and enthusiasm of someone half her age, she entertained 230 university students in her home last year. Her formula was simple: fun, food, fellowship, and her testimony at the end. That is when she would tell her lost students, "I love to teach English, but I love to teach the Bible even more." Then she would invite them to study God's Word with her. The results were amazing. Out of one class of 30 students, 10 of them accepted her study invitation, and 5 of those became believers.

Signs of Salvation
The young couple was surprised to meet a university student who was wearing a cross around his neck, and were delighted to learn that he was a believer. He explained that his grandmother had been a believer, but that he had just accepted Christ into His heart two weeks earlier. Both the couple and the new believer realized that, in His perfect timing, God had orchestrated their meeting so that they could reach their city for Christ. As the couple had prayed fervently for believers willing to be trained, God has prepared the young man for just such an opportunity.

Talk About Celebration!
Chinese New Year Reports from Two Frontline Workers...
"The final day of the New Year celebration is something too BIG to even try and describe, but I will try. The sky is filled with fireworks continuously, like a hundred 4th of July displays all around. Rockets, strips of 2000 firecrackers, "big bang things" and various displays are being set off on the sidewalks, in the alley ways and sometimes even in the middle of the street. It feels like a huge party. Imagine a city of 3 million teeming with people all intent on blowing up their share of fireworks. It is now 10:30 p.m. and the "war zone" sounds and beautiful skies will continue until 12 midnight when a black silence will fill the air."
Today is the end of the Spring Festival, a time when the Chinese New Year is celebrated. Today is considered the "Lantern Festival" and it denotes the official end of Spring Festival and the beginning of spring. People have been setting off major, industrial-strength fireworks all day long to celebrate...the kind that explode into big flower shapes in the sky. I'm serious...those are the kind that have been set off right outside my window! It's quite a show! Have you ever heard of Black Cat firecrackers in the U.S.? String 1,500 to 2,000 of them together and then set them off all at once! That's what it's been like here today. The Chinese truly know how to celebrate!"
Please pray that many Chinese people will celebrate new life in Christ today.

Other Recent Quotes from Front Line Workers...
"God loves the Chinese and Mongolian people so much that He reaches completely outside their sphere to bring people to reach them."
"God was here long before we arrived. He'll be here long after we leave."

From Our Heart to Yours
Thank you for praying for our recent East Asia gathering. We had a joyous time sharing together in worship, prayer, training, and fellowship. As we heard many inspiring reports of God's working in East Asia, we were challenged to do even more for Him.
In small groups, we worked toward sharpening our skills and understandings. Around the meal tables, we reconnected with old friends and made new ones as well. God's hand was evident in every aspect of our meeting. Whether rejoicing over new believers and churches, honoring retiring colleagues, or thanking Him for new babies born to our families, we were constantly reminded of His goodness.
Please pray for all of our workers who have now returned to their locations of service. Many are serving in places that are physically cold and spiritually dark. Ask God to empower them to share His love with the precious peoples that they are seeking to reach.

(From East Asia Update, published by IMB)